Reporting point for undesirable landlord behavior

Landlords and rental agents must rent properly and behave respectfully. For example, they are not allowed to discriminate or intimidate tenants. Also, it must be clear to a tenant which service costs he has to pay and that amount must not be too high. If a landlord does not comply with the rules, you can report this to us. It does not matter how long you rent or whether you are still looking for a home.

Submit a notification

You can report the following

Housing discrimination

A landlord may not refuse a tenant based on nationality, religion, belief, political opinion, race, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.

Intimidation

Landlords and rental agents are not allowed to intimidate. For example, threatening to cancel the rental contract. Or threatening that you will no longer receive electricity.

No information about the rights and obligations as a tenant

The landlord must always properly inform a tenant about:

  • the rights and obligations that are not stated in the rental agreement;
  • the amount of the deposit and when the tenant will get it back when the rental agreement ends;
  • contact information where the tenant can reach the landlord;
  • information about the Reporting Center for Undesirable Rental Practices;
  • a complete overview of the costs that the landlord charges as service costs.

3 months deposit or more

As of July 1, 2023, landlords may request a security deposit of up to two months' base (initial) rent. Was the contract concluded before July 1, 2023? Then the maximum is 3 months.

Housing discrimination

A landlord may not refuse a tenant based on nationality, religion, belief, political opinion, race, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.

No fair service charges

The service costs must be fair. A landlord may only charge service costs that are stipulated in the law. For example, costs for gas, water, electricity or for the individual meter. Or costs for the use of the furniture in the house or for cleaning costs of common areas. And the landlord must send the tenant a statement of service costs every year, stating exactly which costs he charges.

No written rental agreement

A rental agreement must always be in writing. This ensures clarity about what has been agreed. The contract must be signed by both the tenant and the landlord. Landlords are not required to put rental agreements concluded before July 1, 2023, in writing if they were not originally.

The landlord does not properly explain the rent amount

The rent is determined by the number of WWS points it has. WWS stands for 'property valuation system'. The higher the quality of the property, the more points it receives, and the higher the rent can be. If the landlord does not adequately explain how the rent is calculated, you can report it.

Did you conclude a lease agreement before July 1, 2024? Then your landlord does not have to explain the calculation of the WWS points.

The rent or rent increase for your home or room is too high

First check if your rent is too high on www.ismijnhuurteduur.nl. It does not matter whether you rent privately or through a housing association. In both cases, you can report excessive rent to us.

The rental agent charges mediation fees

If a rental agent rents out a property on behalf of a landlord, they may not ask the tenant for agency fees.

Are you a migrant worker?

In that case, you can submit a report if:

  • the rental agreement and the employment contract are not separate;
  • the rights and obligations are not written in a language you understand.

You cannot report the following

Do you rent a home from a housing association?

For example, Woon Friesland or the Stichting Woningbouw Achtkarspelen? You can only report to us if you believe your rent or rent increase with the housing association is too high. First check on www.ismijnhuurteduur.nl to see if this is actually the case.

For all other complaints, please contact the housing association's complaints department. 

Do you have complaints about overdue maintenance?

In that case, you must report it to your landlord. The landlord is responsible for some defects. If you cannot resolve the issue with the landlord, seek advice, for example from the Juridisch Loket (Legal Help Desk). The municipality cannot help you with this.

Do you believe you are paying too much rent?

You can carry out a rent check using the Rent Price Check from the Rent Tribunal. There are also several ways to submit a request to the Rent Tribunal for a rent reduction. The municipality cannot help you with this. For more information, please visit the website of the Rent Tribunal.